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Learn the symptoms of depression

People with depressive illnesses do not all experience the same symptoms. The severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness.

A diagnosis of major depression represents approximately 9.1% of adults in the United States. A clinical case of depression is different from everyday blues in being that the duration and severity of depressive symptoms are more severe. We all go through periodic bouts of sadness or a depressed mood but that lasts only a few days, unlike major depression.

Here is a list of the signs or symptoms of major depression. With a major depression you should be experiencing at least 5 of these symptoms, continuously, for at least 2 weeks:

Do not confuse depression withgrieving. Grieving the loss of a loved one may include some or all of the symptoms of depression. However, it's important to remember that these feelings of sadness, physical, and emotional fatigue are often a normal part of the grieving process. It is possible that an extremely long period of grieving may develop into an episode of depression, but that is a fairly rare experience

What causes depression? Scientists are not exactly sure, and the cause might be different for each person.Some evidence shows that people’s genes may be a factor, because people are more likely to experience depression if they have other family members who have experiences depression (especially close family members). Some research have shown brain activity and structure are different when experiencing depression. There is also some evidence that having hormones out of balance can contribute to depression. Stressful life events can also trigger depression.Don’t be fooled though, certain medical conditions or medications can cause depression or symptoms that look like depression. For example, hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone) can look like depression in some people.

Counseling, medication or a combination or both are effective treatments for depression.Decades of research suggest that not all depressed individuals respond the same way to each of these treatments, but most people (more than 80%) improve with appropriate treatment. (Source:University of Florida Extension pub)